Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1887-06-10
The Railroad Commissioners of the
Northwest Complete Their De-
liberations and Adjourn.
They Say "Under Substantially Sim
liar Conditions" Should be
Construed Literally.
A Proposition to Compel the Roads to
Use Air Brakes on Freight
Trains-Sunday Trains.
Will Not Visit Dakota.

ST. PAUL, June 8.-The railroad COM
missioners Of Minnesota, Dakota. Wiscon-
sin, Iowa and Nebraska met at the capitol
this morning for two days. conference.
The desirability Of a systsm of uniform
classification was admitted, and the after
noon was devoted to the discussion Of the
long and short haul clause of the inter-
state commerce bill. The Minnesota com
missioners favored the clause. The Ne
braska commissioners thought every state
should be allowed to interpret the clause
to suit itself. They stated that -four mills
all over Nebraska are shutting down on
account Of the operation of this clause.
The Iowa commissioners took the same
grounds, and resolution in favor Of such
interpretation, subject to appeal to the
courts, was introduced, and will be voted
upon tomorrow.
ST. PAUL, June 9.-The convention of
railroad commissioners Of the northwest
ern states this morning passed the follow
ing resolution:
Resolved, That in the opinion of the
members Of this convention, "under SUBJ
stantially similar circumstances and con-
ditiOns," in the fourth section of the inter-
state commerce law, should be construed
literally, and that a lower rate to manu-
facturer or producer is not In conflict with
the spirit of this section of that law; pro-
vided all persons and localities under sub
stantially similar circumstances and con-
ditiOns are treated alike. And they would
respectfully ask from tn, interstate COM
merce commission an official Interpretation
of the section.
The secretaries, to whom was referred
the matter Of having uniform blanks for
returns to be made by railroad companies,
recommended that no change be made this
year, but that the interstate commission
call general convention Of railway COM
missiOners to consider the matter and
adopt uniform blanks. The report was
adopted.
The committee on freight classification
reported, calling the interstate commits
sion's attention to the utility and impor-
tance of maintaining uniform classification
covering the railroad freight traffic of the
country.
A resolution strongly approving section
5 Of the Interstate law and asking it's en-
forcement by the national and state com.
missioners passed.
After discussion of the safety appliances
on freight cars, resolutions were passed
declaring it the imperative duty Of the
railroad companies to equip their freight
cars, as fast as practically possible, with
safety or automatic coupling draw bars
and with power brakes; also that unless
railway companies commence this work
within certain time, that it be the duty
of the railroad commissioners to recon-
mend the enactment of the proper law al
luding to the accomplishment of this most
desired end. ...
In reference to the Sunday work ques.
ton, the commission strongly recon.
mended that no trains be run on Sunday
that are not absolutely necessary to the
public welfare.
The executive committee was given
power to call the next meeting at any time
before congress convenes.
The commissioners will spend to morrow
visiting suburban resorts, having aban-
doned their visit to Dakota.